Happy Anniversary!

By Cliff Korn, BS, LMT, NCTMB

This issue of Massage Today marks the first anniversary of our publication. I am pleased to say that Massage Today has met most of its first-year goals, and is now the most well-read publication in the massage and bodywork community! I thank all the readers for your continued support and suggestions for improvement; all the authors who have submitted articles for publication; and especially our esteemed columnists, who each month prepare useful, interesting and thought-provoking columns for you, our readers! A year ago, I wrote that Massage Today had brought together a collection of leaders in our field to report to us on their unique perspectives and points of view.

My personal feeling is that Massage Today's columnists are the best and most read celebrities in the massage and bodywork community today.

Unfortunately, we had to say thank you and goodbye to two of those columnists. In 2001, both Doc Clay and Whitney Lowe felt the need to stop sharing their thoughts with Massage Today readers. I wish Doc Clay much success with his soon-to-be-published textbook, and Whitney Lowe perseverance and insight as he accepts the gavel as the NCBTMB's new chairman early in 2002. We have all benefited from their contributions, and they will be sorely missed. I hope to see them back in print with Massage Today soon if they feel they are able.

Despite their absence in as we begin 2002, I am proud to have continuing columnists Ben Benjamin; Steve Capellini; Neal Cross; Barbra Esher; Keith Grant; Perry Isenberg; Kate Jordan; Claudette Laroche; Vivian Madison-Mahoney; Cherie Sohnen-Moe; Lynda Solien-Wolfe; Ralph Stephens; John Upledger; and Ruth Werner contributing on a regular basis. In the coming months, I hope to introduce several new columnists to join our existing list of experts. Please remember that all of our columnists have contact information listed at the end of their articles. Be sure to let them know if there are specific issues you'd like them to cover in future columns!

While Massage Today has met many first year's goals, it hasn't always been easy. The road to success has not been without potholes and speedbumps! Some have questioned the publication's motives. I assure you that Massage Today remains true to its purpose of bringing unique, diverse perspectives and points of view into the light of day. My guess is that much of the questioning and scrutinizing comes from a lack of ability to put a "spin" on the articles we've published. In the past, the massage and bodywork community was small enough that the various entities were able to almost completely control the print coverage that mentions them. They now seem to prefer that independent media ignore them entirely or accept their public relations offerings as "news." In my opinion, the massage and bodywork community has grown too much for that to be possible anymore. The community is now large enough that when certifying bodies, professional associations, educational entities and accrediting bodies take action, they affect significant portions of our society. Here at Massage Today, we consider several aspects before determining an article as "news." We first look at whether the item affects a significant portion of the community. If a smaller portion of the community is affected, we measure the magnitude of the effect on that smaller group.

I'm pleased with our news coverage in the past year, and downright proud of much of it. I hope you are, too. My one disappointment in our inaugural year was that I couldn't overcome these suspicions of motive. In my very first column, I wrote: "I will strive to enable [Massage Today] to transcend the animosities sometimes seen among various schools, associations, modalities and experience levels, and will encourage the sharing of divergent perspectives." I think I've done my part - but animosities are still there. I'm going to keep trying!

Drum roll please... . This issue also represents a new beginning for Massage Today. With the January 2002 issue, we've initiated a spa section of Massage Today. You will find our long-time spa contributor, Steve Capellini, in the new section, as well as inaugural spa columnists Robin Zill and John Fanuzzi. Additional impressive columnists will be introduced to you in future months. Providing news of the massage & bodywork and spa communities is a natural progression. The advantages of serving both professions with one publication are obvious:

to encourage an open exchange of ideas;

to create a forum where all points of view are welcome;

to share news and information across professional "borders";

to promote greater utilization of all therapies;

to build the foundation for future cooperative efforts; and

to ignite synergies of purpose and function, driving each profession further.

Because Massage Today includes every massage therapist, bodyworker and spa, it can truly be a place where everyone can discuss issues, share ideas and work for positive change. Inclusiveness creates the trust that serves as the foundation for personal and industry growth. I hope you enjoy the added features! I don't know about you, but I sincerely hope that 2002 has more news, but is less "eventful" than 2001!

Massage Today encourages letters to the editor to discuss matters relating to the publication's content. Letters may be published in a future issue of Massage Today. Please send all correspondence by e-mail to
clifflmtmpamedia.com, or by regular mail to the address listed below:

Massage Today P.O. Box 4139 Huntington Beach, CA 92605

Former editor of Massage Today, Cliff is owner of Windham Health Center Neuromuscular Therapy LLC. He is nationally certified in therapeutic massage & bodywork and is licensed as a massage therapist by the states of New Hampshire and Florida. Cliff is a member of the International Association of Healthcare Practitioners; a professional member and past president of the New Hampshire chapter of the American Massage Therapy Association; a certified member of the Associated Bodywork & Massage Professionals, Inc.; and a past chairman of the board of directors of the National Certification Board for Therapeutic Massage & Bodywork.

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